Bendire.] 132 [March 21, 



in rear, and always sat in this manner. I kept it supplied -with fresh 

 water, but I think it never used any. Although I have not found it 

 here during the summer months, I think it a resident, and that.it 

 breeds here. 



103. Bubo virginianus var. arctieus (Swainson). West- 

 ern Great Horned Owl. 



Several specimens taken at different seasons are referable to this 

 variety, while differing in coloration. It appears to be common, par- 

 ticularly so amongst the dense willow thickets on Sylvies River, 

 where it also breeds and finds abundance of food in the numerous 

 heronries. 



104. Nyetia arctica (Gray). Snowy Owl. 



A rare winter visitor, observed on several occasions, but no spec- 

 imens procured. 



105. Glaucidium calif or nieum (Sclater). California 

 Pigmy Owl. 



Moderately abundant during the winter, and some unquestionably 

 breed. It attacks animals nearly as large as itself, and manages to 

 carry them to some distance. A correspondent residing in southern 

 California, found the nest of this owl June 8, 1876, captured the bird 

 on the nest, and writes me as follows: "While out collecting I saw a 

 small owl fly into a large dead poplar tree and alight on a limb, and 

 as he had a bird in his claws I watched him. Soon I saw his mate 

 fly from a hole in the top of the tree, take the bird (Pipilo fuscus) 

 and fly back in the hole. On climbing the tree I found a pigmy owl 

 setting on two eggs which were almost hatched. I took the eggs, and 

 on stirring up the nest which was made of twigs, I felt another egg 

 which I broke in getting out. The eggs are not round, but much like 

 the eggs of the common dove (Zonaidura carolinus) in size and shape." 

 The measurement of one of these eggs is 1.19 X «92 ; the other is a 

 trifle larger. 1 February 5, 1875, I shot a specimen of this species, a 

 9 , at quite a distance from timber. It was sitting on a large boulder 

 at the base of a perpendicular cliff, but they are seldom seen at any 

 distance from the pine forests. 



106. Spheotyto cunicularia var. hypogaea (Bonap.). Bur- 

 rowing Owl. 



A common summer resident, arriving about the end of March. I 

 found it abundant at Fort Lapwai, Idaho, where I obtained a number 

 of their eggs. They preferred hillsides having a southerly exposure. 



1 See Proceedings Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., xviii, p. 162. 



